Weblinks and Training Blogs!

Today I discovered a blog devoted to Dale Carnegie, it offers some neat tips on how to be "successful", some interesting links to video clips and freebies such as a "Goal setting assessment", "Weekly e-tips" and the "Golden Book".

I was impressed to find this link because in my experience, Dale Carnegie has some wonderful insight into communication. Although some of these tips are common "sensical", they can act as a reminder of positive communication for those interested in bettering their communication style.

http://blog.dalecarnegie.com/

As a trainer, being able to suggest that your learners link to such a website and explore some of those "secrets of success" means that you are able to offer a source in which might help to benefit them. I found this particular blog to be interesting and easy to scroll through, as I'm certain my learners will as well.

Another Blog concept that I discovered (and which I'm sure you are all aware of but since I'm fairly new to this 'whole blogging thing' is new to me) ... is the idea of a blog directory.

http://www.iblogbusiness.com/

Now, this concept has REALLY impressed me.

As a professional, I can go on and look through this business blog directory and find blogs/articles which interest me or that I may be needing to learn more about.

In training, sometimes you start off with very little knowledge about the subject you are being asked to design a course for. However, the fact that I can go to a business-blog directory and look it up, read about different perspectives and views ... is HUGE! It will help me form an opinion of the subject because I will have an opportunity to see what others have experienced and also what others have commented about in response to those particular experiences.

I truly believe that this site alone opens up a world of opportunity in how a person might approach learning a subject on their own. I feel a little overwhelmed by how much information is available through blogging.

I hadn't known that blogs were being used as a type of business, training, etc. forum and I find it interesting to see that industries are using this tool to help connect with external communities.

So...to conclude. I've discovered that blogs can be useful tools not only for the learners (as an additional resource) but also for the trainers (helping to train the trainer!). The blog is not limited to one way of thinking, it's open to interpretation and I think that as a learning tool - this is what's most important about it. An "observer" can come in and view more than one perspective, as well as participate in discussion if they so choose.

That's all for now!